Tuesday: The Home Stretch!

Hi everybody! Steve M here. That home stretch I'm talking about has to do with the Pairs Competition. Phil and I are ready for Friday. Are you? Well you better because that's the due date. Also, the HJC Podcast is coming up again. If you guys have any questions that you want answered on the podcast then type your question in the comments section below with Podcast Question: in front of it so we know.

So this week I'm going to talk about a former team known as the Columbus Chill. They played in the ECHL during the 1990's and were essential in bringing the NHL to Columbus. They had a really different jersey design, almost like a roller hockey jersey. Let me know what you think of the jersey or if you have any memories of the chill.

Image From columbuschill.net

As a quick reminder:

COTW Mar 13-19 vote (ends Friday @ 11:59pm EST)

Pairs Competition (ends March 25 @ 10pm EST) 

On to the concepts! 

Taylor Roy- Minnesota State Mavericks

Positives: It was a good choice to make a traditional style jersey. A color scheme like this could be problematic with certain designs.

Negatives: The stripe next to the collar on both jerseys that causes a separation with the yoke looks strange. I understand that you wanted to create an illusion of space but it doesn't look like negative space. Also, that purple yoke is just really strange.

Overall: 7.5/10

 Caz Williams-Tampa Bay Lightning

Positives: If this doesn't shout 1990's then I don't know what does. That being said, I really like the hem stripe. the off-set dip towards the left side looks cool. The arm stripes are also nice.

Negatives: Caz, I get the whole 90's feel but the hot pink isn't necessary. Keep the usual colors.

Overall: 7.25/10

Jay Schreyer- Finland (Logo)

Positives: Very regal of you Jay. Putting the flag inside a shield gives it a royal crest feel.

Negatives: It would have been nice to see "SUOMI" instead of "FINLAND".  Also, maybe make the logo itself cleaner. I seems a little blurry like a slightly out of focus picture. But overall it looks really generic. and kind of flat.

Overall: 6.75/10

 Jay Schreyer- Finland (Jersey)

Positives: The stripping is clean but effective enough that it makes the jersey interesting. Probably because of the diagonal stripes on the sleeves instead of going with plain vertical or horizontal. Also, that yoke on the blue jersey is a nice touch. it really changes up the design compared to the white jersey.

Negatives: The sleeve numbers should be higher up on the jersey. they just don't flow well near the cuffs for my liking. I would also suggest you put a border around the Finland Flag on the white jersey because it just looks like to random blue crosses on the yoke for patches. Other than that, it's a nice jersey. I just wish you pushed the logo farther to really give it a wow factor instead of making look like a generic logo on a custom jersey.

Overall: 7.5/10

Dylan Glenn- Buffalo Sabres

Positives: The yellow as the primary color for the jersey really works on this with the simple design. The yellow cuffs give it a bit of a pop at the end even though you would never see it. The plain blue yoke also works well with this jersey. It really pulls it together.

Negatives: The back numbers look to small with the large stripes how high they are. I would move them down a bit to give the numbers and stripping space. Also, make the stripping the same on the sleeves and hem. I don't think the opposite stripping works on this design. You also made a large mistake with the sleeve numbers. when using a one, part of the other number shows up with the one on the sleeve instead of it being perfectly even like other numbers. The numbers could also be tilted to align with the jersey a bit more as well.

Overall: 7/10

Ryan Christensen- Columbus Blue Jackets

Positives: The simplistic design really works here.The large stripe with the single red accent stripe gives it a tradition but modern feel. The yoke on the white jersey was also a smart idea. The white jersey would be just too plain without it. And, as usual, you have a pretty clean design.

Negatives: A hem stripe would be nice with this. It works without it but the jersey could be a lot better with one. That or change the cuff and bottom hem colors like they have on their current jerseys. And maybe a block design for the numbers. The font just doesn't seem to totally fit well, but something a little more traditional should do the trick. 

Overall: 8.5/10 COTW NOMINEE

Lucas Daitchman- Chicago Blackhawks

Positives: First off, if you're trying to prove Steve Grant wrong then I think you might have (sorry other Steve but that's my opinion). The old version of the C with crossed tomahawks with the thick black outline to make it visible looks good on this. Also, the numbers inside that stripe design is a really interesting concept. It reminds me of the old Ottawa Senators jerseys. I would say that this could work as an outdoor jersey (like they need to be in another outdoor game).

Negatives: That chest stripping kills this jersey design. it's way too busy. make the stripping on the sleeves a hem stripe and you've got a good Stadium series jersey. Also, that collar as plain red isn't really working. Add a second color or something.

Overall: 7/10

Lucas Daitchman- Carolina Hurricanes

Positives: Yay the hurricane flag pattern is back! The fact that you made it a darker red also gives it a much cooler look. I'm also loving the three stripe design on the back of the neck on the yoke design for an Adidas jersey. Out of the two jersey the white one is more successful than the red.

Negatives: We've had this talk about adding the stripes on the top of the yoke with the stripes behind the neck already. It just doesn't work on this as well. Also, lose the black bottom on the red as well as on the sleeves and add it into the stripping as a minor deal and the red jersey will look awesome.

Overall: 7.5/10 

Well that's all the concepts for today. If you don't agree with me then that's your deal and I respect it. I'll see you guys next week and good luck to the ones who entered into the Pairs competition with me and Phil. Steve out.